Graham Johnson Lake (13 April 1935 – 15 February 2023)^[1] was an English scientist known for his contributions to understanding rubber's fatigue limit,^[2][3] and a former professional English cricketer.

Lake began his scientific career as a research assistant in 1958 at the British Rubber Producer's Research Association.^[4] During his employment at BRPRA, he attended evening classes at the University of London, achieving a B.Sc. in Physics in 1962, and a Ph.D. in 1967. He undertook fundamental studies of the fatigue properties of elastomers, and established the principle that fatigue cracks develop from pre-existing features of rubber's microstructure, in accordance with the expectations of Fracture Mechanics.^[5] Together with doctoral student Oon Hock Yeoh he also studied the mechanics of cutting of rubber with a blade, thereby establishing the principle that rubber's intrinsic strength and fatigue limit are the same and that they can be measured via cutting experiments.^[6]

Lake received the 1995 Colwyn Medal.^[7] In 2003, he received the Charles Goodyear Medal in recognition of the significance of his contributions to rubber science.

A symposium was organized in 2003 to honor the 50th anniversary of the development of Fracture Mechanics for rubber, and the symposium title was chosen as 'Fracture Mechanics and Elastomers: 50 not out', in reference to Lake's past career as a professional cricketer.^[8]

Lake was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed tail-end batsman.

Lake made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Sussex in the 1956 County Championship. He made 12 further first-class appearances, the last of which came against Oxford University in 1958.^[9] In his 13 first-class matches, he scored 106 runs at an average of 7.57, with a high score of 18.^[10] With the ball, he took 17 wickets at a bowling average of 27.29, with best figures of 4/39.^[11]